IPL 2025: KKR rope in MP's mystery spinner as Powell replacement

NEW DELHI:

Kolkata Knight Riders

(

KKR

), the defending IPL champions, announced on Sunday that they have recruited Madhya Pradesh spinner

Shivam Shukla

to replace West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell for the remaining

IPL 2025

matches.Powell and England's Moeen Ali have withdrawn from the tournament due to health concerns. "Rovman is undergoing a procedure," KKR officially stated, as IPL 2025 competition recommenced on Saturday after a temporary halt.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The 29-year-old Shukla's domestic cricket experience is modest, with participation in a single Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign yielding eight wickets across eight matches, notably taking 4-29 against Bengal.

His recent outstanding performance in the

Madhya Pradesh Premier League

saw him emerge as the leading wicket-taker, securing 10 dismissals, including a five-wicket haul.

KKR's championship defence concluded prematurely when their match against

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

at M Chinnaswamy Stadium was abandoned due to rain, as IPL 2025 resumed following a brief interruption caused by the border disputes on Saturday.The adjusted schedule has resulted in several international players becoming unavailable for the remaining fixtures due to national team commitments and individual circumstances, potentially affecting team selections during the qualification phase.

The abandoned match significantly altered the IPL 2025 standings. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed the top position with 17 points from 12 matches, surpassing

Gujarat Titans

(16 points from 11 matches) and

Punjab Kings

(15 from 11 matches), although both teams retain one match in hand.KKR's final league match is scheduled against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 25.